Method and device for assembling, storing and protecting puzzles

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method and device for assembling, storing and protecting puzzles. The inventive device is characterised in that it consists of a box comprising: a rectangular sheet of cardboard or similar material ( 1 ) which is provided with fold lines to facilitate the folding thereof; and covers ( 2  and  3 ) which are disposed at the ends thereof. A bag is disposed inside said box ( 4 ) which contains the pieces of the puzzle and a folded sheet ( 7 ). Once the rectangular sheet ( 1 ) forming the structure of the box containing the puzzle has been unfolded, said sheet forms the support surface for the assembly of the pieces of the puzzle. The aforementioned support sheet, comprising the completed or unfinished puzzle, is stored in the bag ( 4 ) which is provided with a leak-tight opening and closing element ( 5 ). Moreover, the bag is provided with a valve ( 6 ) which is used to extract the air from inside said bag by any mechanical or manual means. In this way, the assembled pieces of the puzzle cannot move, thereby making said puzzle easier to transport. The inventive device also comprises an auxiliary sheet of cardboard or similar material ( 7 ) which is provided with fold lines and cuts for the folding and unfolding thereof and which can be used as an additional board for assembling the pieces of the puzzle.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

This present Invention patent refers to a new method and device for assembling, storing and protecting puzzles, which consists of a box with an original makeup. It is foldable and forms the support-base for the assembling of the pieces that make up the puzzle, a bag with a valve that allows the immobilisation of the incomplete or unfinished puzzle and other complements.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The application for this invention is the industry dedicated to the manufacture of puzzles, boxes and games, preferably made up from cardboard, likewise for the leisure market and the bag making industry.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The assembling of the pieces, by preference flat pieces, with irregular straight or curved shapes, with differing tones and images printed onto them that in their entirety make a picture or graphical representation, known as jigsaw puzzles, is a very well known and popular leisure activity. The jigsaw puzzle in itself provides a high degree of development for the mental faculties and great entertainment, much more considering that up to now, day by day getting better and improving until reaching higher levels of complication, which implies that they need more time in order to finish the assembling of the puzzle, and so they also need more complementary elements for their construction.

There are previous patents and utility models referring to puzzles and jigsaws, such as the European patent No. A-0401290 that describes a support for puzzles in which there is a playing surface possessing friction and a lid or articulated lids covering the playing surface, whose covers have a compressible blanket or cushion adapted in order to apply contact to the assembled or partially assembled puzzle when the lid is covering the playing surface.

There is also the Utility Model No. U9901068 referring to a box for assembling and moving assembled and semi-assembled puzzles and similar, that is characterised because it has two pieces of wood, an internal hollow, joined together by hinges and a closing device. On the inside area there are two compartments and some tapes that cross right across in order to hold the elements or pieces of the puzzle.

The majority of the puzzles come in cardboard boxes or similar, on the inside of which there is a sealed bag containing the pieces that make up the puzzle, without other complements.

The applicant also has knowledge of the existence of container boxes for different games, with specific compartments for the differing elements that make up same, however, when it is required to put the puzzle or similar together, that has a large number of pieces, and which at the same time is large in size, and where the assembly is gradually carried out of the different pieces that make up the puzzle, large sheets have to be used.

These large-sized puzzles are assembled over several days, and each time the assembly activity is stopped the already assembled pieces and others separated from the puzzle placed within the board have to be moved with a lot of care to a safe place, or alternatively have to be left in an area of the house where the passage of people will not present a problem. In spite of taking extreme precautions in the moving of the puzzle, the pieces almost always move from their initial positions.

This means that up until now, the moving of the assembled pieces from one place to another, without their being a risk of the pieces becoming detached seems impossible.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This new method and device for assembling, storing and protecting puzzles is formed as a clear novelty within the specific field of application, containing a series of advantages that allow ease in the assembling, and perfect protection both for the assembled pieces and equally for those not yet assembled, likewise for a change of place or the moving of the assembled or semi-assembled puzzle without the risk of the puzzle pieces moving.

Hence, it comprises of a rectangular cardboard or similar element that has some folded lines to form a box with two lids located on the sides. On the inside there is a bag with unique characteristics, with airtight system for opening and closing and a valve, which contains the pieces or elements that make up the puzzle, likewise this box can have a separate folded piece of rectangular cardboard, and another bag the same as the above-mentioned, but empty. Once the lids are removed from the sides of the box, the rectangular element is unfolded, and thus forming a board for the assembly of the pieces of the puzzle.

The board with the incomplete puzzle in its unfinished state is introduced into the bag that holds the pieces, it is closed, and by means of the valve located in said bag the air is drawn out from the inside, either by manual or equally mechanical means, forming a vacuum, the assembled pieces becoming immobilised, and with which it can be moved and remain where it is most suitable.

An empty bag with similar characteristics can be placed inside the box to hold the pieces that have as yet not been assembled. In a like manner a rectangular cardboard or similar folded element can be used to hold the puzzle pieces or elements that have been sorted but not assembled on the main puzzle assembly board.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to complete the description that is being made and for the purpose of giving a greater understanding of the characteristics of the invention, this present descriptive memorandum is accompanied by four sheets of plans, as an integral part of same, that are illustrative but not limiting, where the following can be seen:

FIG. 1 corresponds to a perspective view of the closed box, which contains the puzzle pieces.

FIG. 2 corresponds to a perspective view of the rectangular sheet that makes up the box.

FIG. 3 corresponds to an elevation view of the rectangular sheet that makes up the box.

FIG. 4 shows an elevation view of the bag that contains the puzzle pieces.

FIG. 5 shows an elevation view of the bag containing the puzzle pieces.

FIG. 6 shows an elevation view of a foldable rectangular element.

FIG. 6 is a rectangular sheet (7) of cardboard or similar material, as an auxiliary element, that has some cuts and fold lines to make the folding easy, and which serves as a complement for its use as a base board for the assembling of the puzzle pieces.

The sheet (7) and the bag (4) can be marketed together or separately as auxiliary elements to the conventional puzzles.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Having looked at the figures it can be seen that this method and device for assembling, storing and protecting puzzles is comprised of a box (1), as can be appreciated in FIG. 1, with closure lids (2) and (3), located on the sides.

Thus, in FIG. 2, it can be appreciated that the main part of the box is made from a single sheet element (1).

In FIG. 3 the rectangular sheet element (1) is shown, and where the fold lines for the construction of the box can be seen.

In accordance with FIG. 3, the sheet element (1), which forms the box structure, when unfolded, makes the base onto which the puzzle pieces are assembled.

FIG. 4 corresponds to an elevation view of the bag (4) which contains the puzzle pieces, the element (5) to make the airtight seal for the opening and closing of said bag (4) and the valve (6) in order to create the vacuum of same.

In FIG. 5 the bag (4) can be seen, in whose interior there is a sheet element (1), or base for the assembled pieces of the puzzle. It can be appreciated that the air has been extracted from the bag (4), by means of the valve (6) and in so doing the assembled pieces of the puzzle being immobilised for their protection and movement. 

1. Method and device for assembling, storing and protecting puzzles that is essentially characterised in that it is made up from a box formed by a rectangular cardboard or similar sheet element (1), with some fold lines to make its folding easier and some closure lids (2) and (3), located at the ends, there being a bag (4) on the inside which contains the pieces of the puzzle and a folded sheet (7).
 2. Method and device for assembling, storing and protecting puzzles, according to the previous claim and in that the rectangular sheet element (1), which forms the structure of the container box for the pieces of the puzzle, once unfolded becomes the support surface for the assembling or completing of the pieces of the puzzle.
 3. Method and device for assembling, storing and protecting puzzles according to the previous claims and in that the rectangular sheet (1) with the partially or totally assembled pieces are kept in the bag (4), which has an element (5) to give an airtight seal, and a valve (6) in order to extract the air from the inside of same, by any manual or mechanical method, and in so doing leaving the assembled pieces of the puzzle immobilised and enabling their easy movement.
 4. Method and device for assembling, storing and protecting puzzles according to the claim 1, and in that the cardboard or similar rectangular sheet (7) is an auxiliary element that has some fold cuts and lines that allow its folding, and being a complement to its use as an assembly board for the pieces of the puzzle. 